Driving on Oily Sands: The Future of the American Dream

We live in an America that primarily runs on dirty fuel. We find ourselves floundering in an economy reliant on the acquisition of expensive commodities. We drive our gas guzzling SUV’s and commute extensive distances, without even considering the energy needed to make that single trip. Often, we overlook the cost of the very resources we rely most heavily; most of which are non-renewable. The time to reconsider the future of American ethics and energy is HERE & NOW.

An Oily History

Alberta (Tar) Sands, Canada

On February 9th, 2005, a corporation known as TransCanadaproposed a plan to construct a 1700 mile underground oil pipeline. This pipeline would cross 6 states (Kansas, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas), several major rivers and a critical Aquifer. It would allow U.S. BIG oil to purchase and pump low grade crude oil from Alberta (tar sands), Canada to Texas refineries along the Gulf Coast. Russ Girling, President and CEO of TransCanada, claims construction of the pipeline will alleviate some of America’s interactions with unfriendly oil controllers in the Middle East. These claims are unlikely since the oil produced from “strip-mining” is of such low quality. The 500,000 barrels a day of cheap oil will most likely be resold to oversees markets, making strained relationships with the Middle East still necessary.

The Bigger (Oil) Picture

The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is the primary trading floor upon which all oil transactions are traded. ICE is owned by big oil companies and big banks and is not at all regulated by the U.S. government. In April 2010, ICE acquired control over Climate Exchange (CLE) which operates the European CLimate Exchange(ECX) and the Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE). That same year the Chicago CLimate Exchange (CCX) crashed. It was the only voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas trading and carbon “offset” project in North America and Brazil. In short, American oil companies and big banks will answer to no one regarding their ecological decisions. To top it all off, the world’s six largest publicly traded oil companies reported a combined $38.1 billion in first-quarter profits. That’s a pretty huge profit for such a craptastic economy?!

Don’t Drink the Water

Pipeline Protestors

One of the most frightening concerns regarding the pipeline was the initial decision to navigate it directly through a portion of Nebraska where lies the Ogallala Aquifer. This source of water provides drinking and agricultural water to over 2 Million people across 8 states. The Sierra Club reported the pipeline would “ONLY leak once every seven to eleven years.” But they neglected to include the pipeline’s pumping stations, which have already sustained 11 reported spills in their first year of operation.” The question was not IF the drinking and irrigation water-table would be contaminated but WHEN.

TransCanada, as of today, will be forced to re-direct their route around the Sandhills area of Nebraska (where the aquifer lies). President Obama delayed the decision of a permit to go forward, given all other areas of re-routing had been discussed. The new route has not been established as of yet, but it is said to require 30-40 additional miles of pipeline and one more pumping station. State department officials say the final decision and alternative route could take another 12-18months to determine. A decision is said to be made following the next Presidential election. Truth be told, if U.S. does not exploit Canada’s Tar Sands, Asian markets will.

An Ethical Decision

A member of the Occupy Wall Street movement shows his sign as he protests on 5th Avenue while marching through the New York against economic inequality. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

This conversation (however lengthy it has been) is about more than just oil and BIG banks. It’s about preserving the core values that are nestled inside that great package we call “The American Dream”. It’s about teaching our children the important things in life; the value of a dollar, the importance of good work ethic and the general sense between Right and Wrong. The future of this country (much like the past) will be grounded in the morals and standards that we set forth today. Our strategy as a people should not be to build, drill, & take all in our power. Instead, we need to become a culture that empowers youthful innovative leaders to be responsible, teaches respect for people, and sustains on renewable resources. It’s time to build a new American Dream!

§ One Response to Driving on Oily Sands: The Future of the American Dream

Dear Mr. President:Like some of my friends who you have seen areretsd at the gates to the White House, I am opposed to the Keystone XL Pipeline.a0 It is a danger to human health.a0 The tar sands project already compromises the water supply of First Nations peoples in Alberta.a0 The pipeline would extend that danger to the Ogallala aquifer and the health of my neighbors in Nebraska.a0 Compromised water quality is not the only health risk.Because the extraction of tar sands uses more energy than normal drilling, the process releases excessive amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, thus contributing to climate change.a0 My colleagues in Climate Change Lobby, in Iowa and across the nation, Republicans and Democrats alike, know tht climate change is an ever increasing risk to human health.a0 The pipeline would vastly expand development and extraction of tar sands oil and be a deadly contributor to green house gases.a0 These risks do not target liberals or conservatives, libertarians or socialists.a0 Nor are they risks only to other species or distant people and places.a0 We believe that the silent majority of Americans are confused by distorted frames of climate science debates and politicized rhetoric about an issue that knows no political divides.a0 They we need clear information and a way forward.a0 Mr. President, we need your help to build an atmosphere of public civility and the public will to address climate change as the extraordinary health hazard that it is.a0 The Keystone XL Pipeline will increase the danger, distract Americans from building a necessary infrastructure of sustainable jobs, mislead Americans into thinking this oil will be, somehow, our oil and remain separate from the global market, and make our necessary race against time harder to win.Sincerely,Barbara Eckstein